Ok, So Not Quite Three Weeks...

Our sweet Giovanna Marai Rastelli has arrived!! She threw us for a loop by arriving 2 1/2 weeks early on Wednesday, September 30th at 8:56 a.m.

OUR STORY:
Ray had just come to bed around 3 a.m. after completing a work project, and I woke him at 4:15 a.m. with the shock and disbelief that my water had just broke! Our conversation went something like this...

Melissa: Oh no! Ray, my water just broke!!

Ray: Are you sure your water broke? I don't think your water broke.

Melissa: Ummm, it's my third baby. Believe me, my water just broke. We are having this baby TODAY.

(Sudden panic hits)...

WAIT!! I don't have time to have a baby this week! Ally's school pics are on Friday, and Sophie's 4th birthday party is on Saturday. My mom doesn't even fly down for two more weeks!!! I don't have a thing packed for the hospital, and my friend Kris has the car seat because she is making a cover for it! Oh no!! (I jump into the shower because there is NO WAY I am going to the hospital in current state of funk.)

Ray: (Sudden panic hits)...Oh no! I have to move offices today! And I have major projects due at work this week!

Melissa: Well, we have to figure something out, because this baby is coming TODAY... (pause for contraction)... ok, if I can have the baby by noon today, then maybe they will let us come home tomorrow and I can finish getting everything together for Ally's pics and Sophie's party and...(another contraction)...I'll go call my mom...

Ray: And I'll call the office and work out some of those details...

OK, LET'S GO HAVE THIS BABY!!

We kicked it into high gear - got the girls packed for school and overnights at friends' houses (thanks again, Sammi and Tracey!!), grabbed what we could remember to pack for the hospital, and off we went! Labor went REALLY fast, and Ray and I sat there shaking our heads later that morning with our beautiful new daughter in our arms saying "I can't believe we just had a baby and it's not even 9 a.m.!!"

Every detail that had concerned us fell into place. Nana (my mom) changed her flight and came into town right away, Ally went off to school looking adorable for her school pics, and Sophie's birthday party was a huge success. My mom even helped me make the special butterfly cake I had promised Sophie I would make for her party!

The car seat situation worked out too - my friend Kris had awakened on Wed feeling an urgency to work on the car seat cover, and had JUST finished it when she got the call that our baby had arrived that morning! How's that for God's timing?!

SO... it has been a little crazy around here these past couple of weeks, but our darling new baby girl is fitting in just fine. And Giovanna has brought us more joy than we ever thought possible. Just like her name means, she is truly "a gracious gift from God"!

Here are LOTS and LOTS of pictures...

Minutes old - 6lbs 8 oz, 19.5 in long







Gia meeting Ally & Sophie







Gia's middle name Marai (pronounced like Mariah-as in Carey- but without the last "uh"!) was Ray's grandmother's maiden name.



Packing to go home

Giovanna meets her Nana

My beautiful new car seat cover - thanks, Kris!

Hangin' out at home